The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19
THE HISTORY OF A SKULL.
Facts in the Life of Lord Altham-UsurptnE
Estate and Title.

Facts in the Life of Lord Misunderstanding
Estate and q Title.
Columbia (Pa.) Letter in New York Times.
There is in the possession of physician of
this county a portion of q womans skull which
was plowed up in field near the foot OF Chick
les hills many years ago. The owner asserts
that it is the skull of woman who was the
daughter of one OF the early settlers in that part
of Lancaster county, and who, but Cor the sud
den and untimely death of her lover would have
become the wife of James Annesley, Lord Alt
ham, who succeeded to the title and its estates
in the County Wexford. Ireland, in 1743. The
story that the crumblne skull recalls is a pa
thetic romance of the olden time.
Among the passengers board of vessel
that landed in Philadelphia in the early summer
of 172S was a boy who said his name was James
Annesley. He thirteen years old, and said
he had been placed on the ship at Dublin by mis-
uncle, who had deserted him. The boys pas
sage had not been paid, and as his story was not
believed by the captain of the vessel he was sold.
after the custom OF that day. to servo his pur-
chaser until his service had satisfied the amount
paid for him to the ships captain. Unfortu-
mates Of that kind were called 'redemptioners, !"
and as the rich agricultural lands in Lancaster
and adjoining counties were then being taken
up by the settlers and farm help was scarce in
the country, farmers owning such lands
always hand at the landing OF every
vessel from abroad. with the hope of securing
more redemptioners to labor on the farms
they were making. The boy Anneslev was pur-
chased by old German farmer who owned
tract at the foot of the Chickies hills He
put to work at farm drudgery, and shaved for
the farmer for over ten years. Once during this
term of service he attempted to escape from his
master. but was captured and locked in the log
building which was then the county Jail, and
stood in what is now the center of the village Of
Columbia. The building was still standing
within the recollection of middle aged residents
of Columbia to-day.
The boy could have been kept prisoner at the
pleasure of his master, but the story is that he
was released at the fearful solicitation of the
farmers daughter-a girl one year the junior of
Annesley. The young redemptloner went back
to his drungery on the farm and never attempted
to escape from 1t again. AS he grew to man
hood he developed wild disposition, and the
farmers daughter between whom and the Irish
lad strong affection had grown. was the only
girls father objected to the intimacy between
Annesley and his daughter. and at the end of
ten years tried to dismiss the youth from his
service. and drive him away from the neighber-
hood, but the'young man refused to go. He said
he intended to marry the farmers daughter as
soon as be could go back to Ireland and recover
the rights of which he had been robbed The
old German did not believe the stories Annesley
was in the habit of telling about his just claim
to wealth and rank in his native land, but the
girl had the greatest faith in them.
In the summer of 1740 two Irish immigrants
who had landed in Philadelphia and were on
their way afoot to a settlement on the Susque-
hanna. in what is now Daupbin county. while
passing by the old Germans farm stopped to
ask for a drink of water Young Annesey nap
peLed to be the person OF whom they MADE Inc
request Noticing that the men were lrlshmen
he asked them from what part OF Ireland they
came. He was told that they were natives
been tenants of Lord Altman, whose
cruelties had forced them and others
to leave Ireland and come to America. Annesley
surprised the two Irishmen, who were brothers,
named John and William Brody, by telling them
that he was James Annesley. the real Lord AL
than and that at his fathers death in 1923 he
had been induced by his Uncle Richard to leave
his school in Dublin and go with him aboard
vessel which had sailed with him to America.
The Irishmen told him that the uncle in
possession of the title and estates, he having
proved the death of his nephew. James, and
being the next OF kin.
Arthur, Lord Altman, the father OF James,
had married a natural daughter of the Earl Of
Buckingham. in IVA, Soon after the birth of
her son. in l7l5. she and her husband separated.
Lord Altman kept the child. and formed a liaison
with a young Irish woman by the name OF
Gregory. She succeeded in creating in his
heart a strong dislike fos the boy James, and